'Just Right'

Lots has happened since Christmas, starting with a lovely pile of bronze fittings arriving courtesy of Classic Marine. They are, starting from centre top and going clockwise, tabernacle, gaff saddle, stem fitting (more of that later), goose neck, mast band and bow fitting. A helpful hint we received was to get the fittings and then make the parts to fit due to tolerances not necessarily being perfect.

You may have noticed that the stem fitting is not as shiny as the other fittings as this is a 'pre-owned' item and in fact came from 'Just Right' the Golant Gaffer adapted and built by Gus Davidson and sailed in the 2010 Jester Challenge in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Charity http://www.boatshed.com/transatlantic-for-macmillan-cancer-support-blog-3704.html. Although 'Just Right' didn't complete the full transatlantic she got to the Azores and back 
We understand Gus recycled his boat and we are the happy beneficiaries of his well travelled stem fitting. I rather like the idea of having a bit of Golant Gaffer history incorporated into our boat.

The other job completed over the Christmas break was two coats of primer (Nautix HPE epoxy primer) on the hull which was quite quick and straight forward with D applying paint with a roller and me tipping in with a foam brush. 

D has also been manfully sanding the inside of the hull which is rather cramped but done in short burst is not too bad.

Then D turned his attention to the mast, and here is a bit that he made earlier which graced my kitchen for a while !

Then for the real thing. The timber  was scarfed into long enough lengths and cut to shape.

This is where you need space twice the length of the mast to run it through the saw.

Then the pieces are glued together with epoxy and cable ties hold the pieces in place.

And finally, the mast is planed to final shape and size.

The mast is hollow and contains a plastic conduit into which the electrics will run.